My current work in progress:

The Mouse Queen

I feel like the Queen of the Meeses with all my little subjects bowing to my every whim.

Perhaps the aroma of catnip has gotten to me . . . I seen to be babbling. Of course, some of you might say “How can we tell the difference?”

Ha ha.

I printed out a whole lotta mouse labels and took them to work yesterday along with mouse bags. I stuck labels on during my lunchbreak, so we’re getting caught up a bit on the mouse packaging.

And here, for your viewing pleasure, a photo of Mrs. C’s handsome Maxwell, showing incredible restraint as he poses with some Mouse-a-thon mice.

I think Lucy is quite taken with his beautiful eyes.

Jamieson’s Shetland Knitting Book 3

I got my copy in the mail on Wednesday (The Day of 146 Mice). I was a wee bit disappointed that there weren’t more fair isles — only two. There’s a fair isle cardi that I don’t really care for, but the pullover, Mossbank, is quite lovely. I may have to make that.

The rest of the designs made me go “eh” because they were too simple for my taste. Except for one short pullover that looked intriguing — a combination of cables and lace.

But I think the book was worth getting for me because of the Mossbank fair isle. There were some fun felted bags in it as well, that at some point in my lifetime I might need to make.

Saving the Best Til Last . . . Marina!

Getting close to the point where I’ll start the front neck shaping.

Don’t forget! Contest winner will be picked at random from all the correct responses as 5pm EST today. Winner will be announced in Monday’s blog>

Comments

Marina is looking lovely – much pinker and brighter than in the Woolcraft book.I really like that.
Would you knit anything out of the first two Jamiesons’ books ? I can see you in the cropped ,cabled cardigan in,I think,the first book.It has long ,slender sleeves and a cabled ‘skirt’.It’s shown in a dark claret/purple shade of Shetland Soft.I should really go and find the book,shouldn’t I ? :0]
Have a great weekend Wendy,and everyone else.

Emma, I don’t think I have Jamiesons book 1 — I have book 2, I believe, if that’s the one with the River Grass Gansey in it. I need to look through it again and see if there’s anything that appeals to me. I don’t remember anything jumping out at me and yelling “Knit me!” 🙂

Wendy. Good lord. Marina is breathtaking. Seriously. I look and look and look and I cain’t figger it out. I mean, intellectually I KNOW how you do it, I understand how it’s knitted, I understand the color changes and the stitch formation, but why does it look that GOOD?

Hi Wendy, long time since I wrote but, OK, I’ll admit it, I need help here. Marina has inspired me to try something new. Since you are the goddess of fair isle and no book that I have consulted has had the specific answer, I have to be the one to ask the question. I have started my very first fair-isle type sweater, a kit I bought for a sweater that looks like an oriental rug pullover. It is actually very pretty/colors I like. Everything is going smoothly with the 2 color knitting part which I can do, no problem but what is the best way to start and stop those colors. Every row there is a dilema, do I weave in, tie (gasp) knots, leave it hanging (I’m chicken to do that). I don’t want holes or other colors showing thru on the right side. And I also don’t want to worry about it any more. And its Friday, I need to know for weekend knitting.

Wendy, Oh yeah!!! freedom from weaving. I knew in my little mind that knots must be OK because who in their right mind in the blustery shetlands would weave in all those dang ends. Too many sheep to tend and you can’t walk and weave I guess. Whatever.

I haven’t been knitting as much since about March, due to a sudden onset of hand/wrist pain that turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis. Go figure. I even stopped reading about knitting because it made me crazy. But now I am feeling better on meds so back to knitting I go. Better living thru chemistry. I couldn’t believe how much I missed it.

Wendy, thanks for sharing your opinion on the book… I’ve been anticipating it and wondering if it’s worth getting or not. I’ve only seen 8 of the designs from thumbs on one of the online yarn shops, and have been waiting for people’s comments.

It is funny that someone would ask you the question about knots today since I just happened to be browsing through your old archives yesterday and came across that interesting discussion. For those of you out there who just love reading Wendy’s blog, try going back and rereading the archives for a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting there knitting away on a simple vest for my dad while reading through old archives on fair isle knitting, dreaming of one day making a fair isle sweater myself.

Wendy…I bought Jamieson’s Book 3 at Stitches Midwest. I wasn’t totally blown away by the designs but I think the book itself is beautiful – it makes me feel good to look at it. Also, the booth I bought the book in had many of the sweaters on display and they were very beautiful in person.

I’m at work and don’t have the book at hand but the sweater jacket (Lorna’s Jacket, maybe?) that I’m thinking of making for my mom.

I’d like to make it for me too but for me, I’d have to alter the pattern from the more tailored-pulled -in look at the waist band. It will work well as is for my mom since she’s a tiny /skinny little thing – not even 5ft!

Marina is looking lovely today… And so is our dear Lucy! I am glad you bought the Jamieson’s book before I did… I wanted an opinion on it before I go and buy it (of course the LYS says it’s great). For some reason, I don’t find the other Jamieson’s books worth purchasing… I guess I’m more a Norsk Strikkedesign and Poetry in Stitches kind of girl. I think that’s why I love J&AS designs… They are classics, yet have a bit of an edge to them.

I want to thank you for posting Bea Ellis on your blog. I have ordered several Dale of Norway books and yarns (for my grand baby) from her. She is truly a real nice person as I have spoken with her on the phone as well.

Mrs C., if you’d like to try a fair isle, Alice Starmore’s Roscalie Vest is a good first project. It only has 5 or 6 colors total and the charts are pretty simple, but the results are beautiful. You can get the kit at http://www.virtualyarns.com

If you want to try Norwegian knitting, the Sirdal pullover is also very easy and very pretty. It only uses two colors and is knitted in sportweight wool, so it would go faster than a fair isle. Check out http://www.beaellisknitwear.com for the pattern and wool.

Hi Wendy,
the first two Jamieson’s books have a couple of designs that I still can’t get out of mind and so are on my “make these in this lifetime” list: the Wrixlan Jacket and the Rivergrass Gansey. While the knitting is not super challenging it is interesting, and the styling on these two really appeals to me for general wearability. Believe it or not, I actually do like have wool cardis and jackets for Florida winter mornings and evenings, even though the pullovers are a little too much to wear except for the January cold fronts.

Speaking of the Jamieson’s books, in book 2, Stay AWAY from the Cottage Garden Cardigan (be afraid, be very very afraid), unless you’re prepared to carry three colors EVERy row the entire sweater (sob, sob).
I made that mistake and gave up after about 3 inches of the body. Have a great weekend, Wendy!

That’s it ! The Wrixlan Jacket – thank you to Linda M for that prompt.
It’s a bit different.Very attractive proportions,with a cropped body and long tapered sleeves.The cabling is very interesting too.
If you get a chance have a look & see what you think.I’m off to Google & see if I can find a pic of it.

Hi Wendy~Ive a question for you.Theres a dale of Norway I want to knit,and while I dont have the Heilo or falk I do have Peer Gynt yarn I could use for it.On most websites they seem to have slightly different gauges,but in several pattern books I have(by both Dale&Peer Gynt)the gauges seem the same.I’d prefer to use the Peer Gynt I DO have as opposed to spending over $120 for the Dale yarns.So in a nutshell can I sub?Also,you’ve knit many dale of Norways,but Ive never seen a pic of a Peer Gynt sweater on your website.They have some wonderful patterns too.Also have you ever knit w/Peer Gynt yarn?You are a wonder and an inspiration to me ,not just w/the knitting in how you get so much done.as opposed to moi champ procrastinator and time waster.
I hope you had a lovely wknd.My Izzy sends a hiss and a “cat snub” to Lucy(one of those cattish “Im really paying attention and checking you out,but pretending Im not”jobbies).

yours
NYC jo

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And admiring Marina. Yes, I am one of the fortunate knitters who bought the Scottish Collection for $14.95 back when it was first published. I also purchased the yarn for Luskentyre at the same time (and it’s still not finished)….

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